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Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk) Sch. Bip | |
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Compositae Synonyms: Santolina fragrantissima Forssk. Common names: Lavender cotton (English); Garda-robe, aurone gemelle, santoline (French); Cypressengarbe (German); Guardaroba, abrotano femmina, santolina (Italian); Qaysūm (Arabic), other vernacular names: quaysūn, baytaram, bu‘aythirān |
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Description Fragrant chamaephyte, 50-100 cm, many-stemmed from a woody base. Leaves small, oblong or ovate, generally more ovate than in the other Syrian species of Achillea. Heads discoid. Involucre 5 mm, oblong-ovoid. Flowering May-August. Habitat Dry areas, steppe, and desert. Distribution West Irano-Turanian species: the Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Arabian peninsula, Egypt. |
 Achillea fragrantissima before flowering. Jebel Bel'as, spring 2000 |
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Use In the badia: Al-Khatīb: diabetes, renal calculi, antiseptic for the urinatory tract, lowers the glycerides in the blood. Field data: diabetes, chest (boiled), stomach (alone, or mixed with Teucrium polium), muscular rheumatism (fumigation), cough (to drink in the morning, with sugar), drink (with maté), poisoning from snake's or scorpion's bites (to drink or for irrigation), kidneys (roots). In literature: disinfectant, gargle (infusion of the whole plant), prevention of chafing in babies (boiled until the water is yellowish), carminative, tonic (North Africa), chest complaints, children's colic (the Islamic Republic of Iran), insect repellent, vermifuge, stomach (flourished plant). Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated. Palatability and importance as forage Grazed by livestock. Chemical Data Achillein, inulin, essential oil, resin, tannin. Additional Information This plant is very well known in the whole area. Herbalists sell the flowers, but Bedouins collect it in the badia, where it is common. It is the last species of Achillea to flourish; it has a strong smell and a bitter taste. For this reason it is usually mixed with sugar, but the flowers are eaten alone, for diabetes. Bedouins use another species too: Achillea conferta, called qūysīma, practically for the same purposes, but it is considered as less strong, because its smell is less intense. According to direct field experience, Bedouins use Achillea santolina for the same purposes and also this species is considered weaker than Achillea fragrantissima. References Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses. Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS. |
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All pictures and drawings belong to the author. |
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